INDUWASTE Résumé de rapport

Final Report Summary - INDUWASTE (Management and remediation of hazardous industrial wastes in the Western Balkan countries)

The project INDUWASTE aimed at proposing management and remediation practices for hazardous industrial wastes in the five targeted Western Balkan countries (WBCs) considering their effects on the environment and on human health. It concerns principally wastes from coal mining and coal processing plants, alumina industry, and phosphate industry.

The primary ore for these industries contains toxic substances that are concentrated in the industrial wastes. The harmful elements from industrial wastes may come in contact with the general public when they are dispersed in air or water, when they are dispersed on cultivated soils, or when they are used for concrete building products, or as disposal in engineered surface impoundments and landfills.

The project considered the environmental and the health risk resulting from the wastes and their by-products in their immediate neighbourhood - as it was a common use in the centralised economy to build living areas close to the plants -, the risk from dispersal in the environment particularly through surface and groundwater, up to the absorption of toxic substances by agricultural and animal products and the contamination of the ecological chain.

The project proposed management and remediation practices, aiming at minimising risk at waste disposal sites, in accordance with European Union (EU) legislation, as well as an adapted legislation for waste management and environmental protection in the WBC, referring to the existing directives of the EU.

The project worked on the following issues:- assemble information on the localisation of hazardous industrial wastes in WBC; - define the geographical extent of these wastes and the spatial relation to inhabited areas; - assemble quantitative information about content of harmful substances in the wastes, as well as in the environment (soils, surface and groundwater); - assemble information about the impact on population health through the contamination of the ecological chain; - collect information about the use of by-products of the wastes (building material, disposal in engineered surface impoundments and landfills, industrial products based on waste material); - assemble the available information in a web-based data-base system; - analyse this information in order to define the risk for the environment and human health, using standard industrial solid waste characterisation techniques; - analyse the current state and prospects of environmental protection and remediation practice in the concerned countries, and the existing legislation concerning the environmental protection and remediation in these countries; - propose remediation technologies, as well preventive as remedial aiming at minimising risk at waste disposal sites and define sustainability indicators; - evaluate and harmonise the regulations on pollution-prevention, waste-management and remediation practices, and monitoring practices in the target-countries; - reach stake-holders and end-users, promote public awareness.

INDUWASTE assembled a significant amount of meta-data concerning the (aluminium, coal, copper and phosphate) industrial facilities in the investigated WBCs and the occurrence and dispersion of waste, as well as the potential risk these waste forms for possible pollution of the environment. The information has been assembled in a standardised meta-data base that can be searched trough key-words or by subject. The data-base and background information is available on http://www.induwaste.eu.

The project has organised an international short course on environmental management of industrial wastes in WBCs. This course was held from 10-12 October 2006 in Zagreb. The aim of the international short course was to bring together all stakeholders who are involved in the study, management and control of industrial waste in the WBCs, in order to exchange knowledge and best practices, and to enhance cooperation. The main objective of the short course was to discuss best practices in industrial waste management in order to protect population and environment in the countries involved for the negative effects of harmful wastes. The short course brought together scientists, local and national authorities and industrial professionals to discuss the aspects of legislation, pollution-prevention, remediation and monitoring of industrial activities.

The international short course focused on the characteristics, management and remediation practices for hazardous industrial wastes, considering their effects on the environment and on human health. The participants discussed the risk from dispersal of hazardous substances in the environment, particularly through surface and groundwater, up to the absorption of toxic substances by agricultural and animal products and the contamination of the ecological chain. The short course evaluated also management and remediation practices that aim at minimising the risk at waste disposal sites, in accordance with EU legislation.

The project contributed to the establishment an environmental network for WBCs. The aim of the network is to promote a common approach in the WBCs for the environmental management of industrial wastes. This is achieved by creating a network for environmental management of industrial wastes in the WBCs, composed of scientific experts and representatives of the competent authorities of the five concerned countries.

The goals of the establishment of the network were: - to promote a harmonised legislative approach for the management of industrial wastes in the WBCs; - to exchange information about the management of industrial wastes; - to exchange experts and knowledge; - to promote best practices in the management of industrial wastes; - to consider the transboundary aspects of the environmental effects of industrial wastes within the WBCs; - to consider the transboundary aspects of the environmental effects of industrial wastes with countries surrounding the WBCs; - to create a dialogue with the civil society concerning the environmental aspects of industrial wastes.

A general compilation (synthesis) of the existing regulations (legislation and directives) on waste management practices in WBCs has been given. This essentially highlighted the existence of an adequate legislative and regulatory framework in WBCs, harmonised to the relevant EU directives. If there are problems, they result from difficulties of implementing the rules and directives in the field, due to the often difficult organisational and financial situation.

INDUWASTE studied the impact of industrial waste on population and environment in WBCs. The aspects of these impacts depend on a variety of factors, and hence can only be accurately approached by a multidisciplinary team at international level. The project produced direct recommendations to local monitoring and remediation practices in WBCs, improving the local dissipation of knowledge and technical know-how in remediation practices, and informing the public. The project contributes to the formation of young scientists and to the transfer of knowledge and of scientific skills throughout Europe, between several member states and WBCs. The project also promotes harmonisation of monitoring and remediation practices on a European level. It actively strives to the establishment of a trans-national environmental network for WBCs, stimulating local cooperation on the matter, exchange of knowledge and integration of the region to EU standards and practices.